Mennonite Writers

GREBEL NOW

Conrad Grebel University College

“Mennonite sells,” Sandra Birdsell’s Random House publicist declared to an audience that gathered at Conrad Grebel last year to hear Birdsell read from her novel Children of the Day, the sequel to her Giller Prize-nominated The Russländer. In recent years Mennonite writers like Sandra Birdsell, Rudy Wiebe, David Bergen, and Miriam Toews have brought the Mennonites to national – and international – attention.

Mennonite writers have had a presence at Grebel and the University of Waterloo for many years. Sandra Birdsell, at the invitation of Grebel, was writer in residence on campus over a decade ago. Rudy Wiebe was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Waterloo last year. This spring Birdsell is returning to Grebel once more, this time to deliver the Bechtel Lectures in Anabaptist Mennonite Studies on March 15 and 16. (See back page for more info on the Bechtel Lectures.)

Grebel was the first of the Mennonite colleges in North America to offer a course in Mennonite Literature, a course that Hildi Froese Tiessen (for whom “Mennolit” is a primary area of research) developed in the eighties. It was in 1990, though, that Conrad Grebel was firmly identified with Mennonite literature. That year Grebel hosted the first confer-ence on “Mennonite/s Writing.” It was an amazing event – full of readings and lectures by the most prominent writers and scholars in the field and overflowing with animated conversation. It was memorable, for both Mennonites and for the non-Mennonite scholars in Canadian literature who attended, and who even now speak of that conference as a highlight in their academic careers. Three more conferences have followed since 1990.

In this Issue...

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Mennonite Writers continued

The Make-A-Difference-Market

Theological Education cont.

Thistle & Jewel

Hammer and Wind

Honouring each other

American Duo

2006-07 Award Winners

A Gift to Inspire

Reimer Award

People

Irish Peacemaking

Coming Events

Vol. 23, No. 2 Winter Term 2007Grebel Now is Conrad Grebel University College’s tri-annual newsletter. Editor: Jennifer Konkle

Send all comments, submissions & ideas to: Jen at Conrad Grebel University College Waterloo ON N2L 3G6 519-885-0220 x24229 jkonkle@uwaterloo.ca grebel.uwaterloo.ca

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On December 18, 2006 an historic agreement on Graduate Theological Studies (GTS) was signed between Conrad Grebel University College, St. Jerome’s University and the University of Waterloo (UW).

“This new milestone in our GTS program is the happy result of the good reputation established by the program, a compelling vision for the future, and much goodwill among those who worked together to reach this agreement,” observed Jim Pankratz, Academic Dean at Conrad Grebel. Since his arrival in January 2006, one of his biggest tasks has been leading this discussion about Graduate Theological Studies at the College.

Photo: Myroslaw Tataryn, Acting President , St Jerome’s University, (left), David Johnston, President, University of Waterloo, Henry Paetkau, President, Conrad Grebel University College and Amit Chakma Vice-President, Academic and Provost, gathered to sign the agreement that will see funding flow to Conrad Grebel University College and St. Jerome’s University for their graduate programs in theological studies.

New agreement on Theological Education

As a second year anthropology student at the University of Waterloo, Conrad Grebel resident Mimi Hollinger-Janzen has resolved to make a difference in the world.

Born in Benin, West Africa where she spent her first thirteen years, Mimi returned to Benin last summer to work in a children’s home called Casa Grande. From the dream of its founders and the support of a small Mennonite congregation in Spain, the home has grown into a permanent family for 24 children who have been separated from their biological parents through death or because of health or financial hardships. La Casa Grande is expanding its facilities to accommodate the growing number of children needing a loving home and become a more viable Christian community for 100 children with a school, a health center and training opportunities.

Upon returning to school in the fall, Mimi brought back necklaces handmade by the children at La Casa Grande. Her personal project was to sell this jewelry to raise money for the home. After some brainstorming, Mimi and the Conrad Grebel Chapel Committee together with Chaplain Ed Janzen, decided to host a Christmas bazaar at the College and invited Ten Thousand Villages and Nazareth Village Ministry to be part of it.

The Make-A-Difference-Market evolved to host eleven vendors and two organizations, drawing more than 250 local shoppers. “There are times when everything comes together in pretty amazing ways - the heart of who we are, our experiences, and our opportunities find expression in our daily life,” mused Ed Janzen. “The Make-A-Difference-Market was one such time for various members of the Grebel community.”

All vendors donated 10% of their proceeds to La Casa Grand, raising over $500. While Mimi was happy with this amount, she said “the more important thing is that now people are aware of La Casa Grande. The event showed people that they have an alternative to shopping at the mall to buy Christmas presents and can buy thoughtful, meaningful gifts that not only bring pleasure to the recipient but also help the person who created it.”

Reflecting back on the event, Ed Janzen said that “the relationships that Mimi had with Casa Grande through her family’s experience as missionaries in Benin, her and her friends’ concerns for justice and peace, the support of the college, and the opportunities of the Christmas season all came together to make a difference for the children’s home. Such an event turns the circumstances of life into a lifestyle of Christian commitment.”

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Hammer & Wind

Grebel Alumni join ranks of Mennonite Writers

Theological Education HAMMER AND WIND (2007) is the latest CD of music by Leonard Enns. The disc is devoted to his chamber music and features performers with whom Enns has collaborated over a number of years, most of them on staff in the Grebel Music Department: Stephanie Kramer (soprano), Catherine Robertson (piano), Willem Moo-lenbeek (saxophone), and George Greer (string bass). The disk includes “Piano Sonata No. 1” followed by “Hammer and Wind”, “In the End”, and “Two by Four”. The recording project was supported financially through the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund and the Academic Development Fund of Conrad Grebel. The music was recorded at Maureen Forrester Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University. The cover art is again a piece by Joanne Harder, whose art appears on NorthWord, Enns’ last CD of choral mu-sic. Enns considers the two discs to be a set.CDs are available for $20, via www.ham-merandwind.lenns.ca, the Grebel main office congreb@uwaterloo.ca, or at select record stores across Canada.

Many Grebel alumni from the eighties and nineties will recall Mennonite authors frequently reading at Commie Supper, giving lectures, and running creative writing workshops. Three Grebel Alumni from the nineties, Carrie Snyder, Melanie Cameron, and Kristen Mathies, were so inspired by these guests that they became writers themselves. Coming full circle, these three, now already accomplished writers, were invited to read some of their work at the November 2006 Mennonite/s Writing Conference in Bluffton, OH.

Thistle & JewelTHISTLE & JEWEL (2006) is a collection of Carol Ann Weaver’s songs performed by vocalist Rebecca Campbell, based on poetry of Mennonite-rooted poets - Julia Kasdorf, Jeff Gundy, Ann Hostetler, and Kiera Schneider. Sometimes our own sto-ries are hardest to tell - both the thistles and the jewels. But these writers playfully, whimsically, and colourfully transform normal days into miracles, ordinary farm landscapes into visionary places, modest housewives into frenetically crazy cooks, and plain Amish houses into raucous mar-ble-roller arcades. Respectfully and some-times irreverently, the songs deal with the humour, piety, earthiness, work-and-play, aspirations, wonder, imagination, and beauty found within this unique cultural setting. The music joyfully incorporates sounds from a shared cultural Mennonite heritage - the quietness and space, the urgent busyness, the make-believe worlds created by children sitting through long Sunday morning sermons. CDs are available for $20 via Carol Ann Weaver caweaver@uwaterloo.ca, the Grebel Music Office, music@uwaterloo.ca and the Canadian Music Centre.

Kristen Mathies (’95)Education: BA from UW in English Litera-ture and Peace and Conflict Studies; MA in English Literature from Wilfrid Laurier University; MA in Peace Studies from Asso-ciated Mennonite Biblical SeminaryWork: has published some poetry; writes short stories; served one year for Men-nonite Central Committee in New York as a United Nations InternCurrently: finishing a novel; teaching ESL, Gr. 12 Literacy, and Sociology at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener

Beginning and ending life at Grebel as an associate, Kristen Mathies was a resident for her second and third years of univer-sity. She was very involved with student council, donning, chapel committee, peace society, and more. She even spent a year as the custodian for the academic building!

Thinking back to her formative years as a young writer, Kristen thought that the Mennonite writers Hildi invited to campus were “fabulously encouraging!” To learn from the writers whose work she’d read and enjoyed was inspiration to keep work-ing on her own writing. “Just as significant as being able to meet with the published/well-known writers,” reflects Kristen, “was the kind of community that was created among the people taking the workshops.”

Reading from her nearly completed novel at the Mennonite/s Writing conference in the fall, Kristen found the event to be “fantastic: writing, celebration, teaching, discussion, community, and worship rolled into a few days!” She came away with “gratitude for the organizers, delight in the very fine work I heard, amazement at the range of genres and topics represented, greater confidence in my own work, ques-tions to follow up on, and scribbled drafts of new work. What an incredibly worth-while few days for the attendees individu-ally, for MennoLit as a genre and a com-munity of writers, and for the church!”

Melanie Cameron (’96)Education: BA from UW in English Rheto-ric and Professional Writing; MA in English Literature from the University of ManitobaWork: Holding the Dark (1999), Wake (2003); finalist for several awards; poems printed in a number of North American and European literary periodicals and antholo-gies; worked for Prairie Fire magazineCurrently: recently adopted 2 children with husband Mark Morton and is “basking in family and community relationships”; teaching part-time; casually working on projects in several genres.

Transferring to Grebel/UW from U of T for her second year, Melanie Cameron was an associate at first, then a resident. One highlight of her undergrad years was the series of Mennonite Writers Workshops that Hildi Froese Tiessen organized.

Prior to the series, Melanie had never participated in a workshop or talked exten-sively with a published author. “Listening to writers share their thoughts about po-etry, and about how they carved out men-tal and practical space for themselves, was profound for me,” says Melanie. “Some of the insights shared by those writers have stuck with me, and I find myself drawing on some of that now when I teach work-shops or write. It was truly a rare opportu-nity.” The most significant thing for Melanie arising from the workshops was a mentor-ship connection with Patrick Friesen. She is grateful for his generosity and correspon-dence over the years as he sent feedback, suggestions, and encouragement during her early growth as a writer.

Melanie was apprehensive when invited to read at the recent Mennonite/s Writing con-ference but soon “settled profoundly and joyfully into the whole event.” She sudden-ly felt “located with the people sitting in the seats around me - people who had dem-onstrated that the tradition of Mennonite writing, in its current incarnation, runs far deeper and richer than I’d ever imagined.”

Carrie Snyder (’97)Education: BA from UW in English Litera-ture and Peace and Conflict Studies; MA in English Literature from the University of TorontoWork: Hair Hat (2004); short stories and poems in a number of periodicals and anthologies; nominated for numerous awards, winner of several; worked in the Books section of the National PostCurrently: working on a novel set in Ni-caragua; being a mom to three children, ages 5, 4, and 1; living in Waterloo with husband Kevin Cairns

Carrie Snyder lived at Conrad Grebel dur-ing 1992-93 where she was roommates with Melanie Cameron. She has great memories of spending time with the cooks, flipping tons of eggs on the grill and dis-covering that one of the layers of delicious seven-layer-salad is pure mayonnaise!

As an English student, Carrie considered Hildi Froese Tiessen an early mentor. “She was an amazingly supportive teacher and academic dean,” says Carrie. “Her belief in my writing bolstered my confidence and made me believe that it was possible to become a real writer.” Over the years Hildi invited Carrie to several writing workshops and even gave her work to visiting authors for comments and critiques. However, Car-rie says that it was Hildi’s interaction with her that she values the most. “I always felt welcome to visit her office and share my hopes, dreams, and poems. What a gift it is to have someone believe in you before you’ve actually proven yourself.”

Participating in the Mennonite/s Writing conference, Carrie wasn’t sure she’d fit in. “But being at the conference made me feel a part of this larger writing community,” said Carrie. “I spent most of my time at readings by other Mennonite writers who showed such variety, talent, beautiful im-agery, and diversity of experience. I felt suddenly connected to something larger than myself - a strong sense of belonging.”

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At its fall Strategic Planning sessions, the Board, along with other stakeholders, high-lighted the need to expand the Master of Theological Studies program. This program has grown significantly in recent years and now has over 50 students enrolled. Many of them are preparing for leadership in the church, some are pastors who are continuing their education, and others are preparing for further graduate studies. Of the 53 graduates from this program, about one quarter have gone on to complete doctoral studies in Bible and theology, nearly half are in the pastorate, and the rest are in a variety of professions.

This agreement with UW will mean that the degree will be conferred conjointly by both Grebel and the University of Waterloo. It will also offer graduate students additional support from UW’s Graduate Student program for things like health insurance and allow students to qualify for Ontario Graduate Scholarships.

“Part of the genius of Grebel is its ability to be a bridge between a public campus with its government funding and the needs of the church,” noted President Henry Paetkau. “While this income will provide us with a partial source of stable funding for our graduate program, we will still depend on revenue from the Ralph and Eileen Lebold Endowment for Leadership Training and Annual Fund donations in order to be able to offer Biblical studies and pastoral training, including the mentoring program led by Marianne Mel-linger.” The funding provided through this new agreement with the University of Water-loo is based on enrolment and could net $150,000 in annual revenue for the Master of Theological Studies program.

This agreement will serve to enhance what is a unique program in church leadership development in Canada and the United States. “Our commitment to our students and to serving the church and its leadership needs will be enhanced through this new partner-ship with the University,” observed Tom Yoder Neufeld, who teaches Biblical Studies in the program.

The Make-A-Difference Market

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American Duo Makes their Mark

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Honouring each other

The Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (TMTC) and Conrad Grebel University College are pleased to name Allan Rudy-Froese as the 2006-07 recipient of the A. James Reimer Award, a recently established award for Mennonite doctoral students at the Toronto School of Theology and TMTC.

Allan is an active TMTC-affiliated student, pursuing a doctorate in pastoral theology at Emmanuel College, specializing in homiletics. His dissertation will attempt to construct an Anabaptist theology of grace for preaching. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies in 2004, Allan completed undergraduate degrees at Canadian Mennonite Bible College and the University of Winnipeg; he also earned an M.Div. from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Allan has pastored three churches: Thompson United Mennonite Church (Manitoba), Rockway Mennonite Church in Waterloo, and, most recently, Erb Street Mennonite Church in Kitchener.

Interestingly, while at Rockway he was the pastor to Dr. Jim Reimer in whose honor the Reimer Award is endowed. “We have taught youth catechism together,” states Allan, “and I have sat in on some of his classes. I have great respect for his academic work, his preaching, his parenting, and his sense of humor. When I picture Jim, I see a man living and grappling seriously, yet humorously, with Jesus’ call to discipleship and community in the context of God’s ridiculously generous grace. Jim is a great inspiration.”

At every end-of-term banquet, the Stu-dent Council presents several Student Life Awards. Winners of this non-monetary (fame only) award are nominated by their peers because they have shown outstand-ing leadership despite not holding a for-mal leadership role at the College. It is intended for students who stand out in the crowd – who get involved in the commu-nity in an exceptional way.

This past fall term, five students were presented with this award. Two recipients introduced together were Rosabeth Koehn and Angela Hostetler, both first year English majors from Goshen, Indiana. In his awarding speech, Student Council Presi-dent Justus Zim-merly, described how these two women enrich the Grebel com-munity simply by their glow-ing presence. “Whether it’s the creation of for-eign film night or a lovely hymn sing or just a piece of pie for American Thanksgiving, they always warm our hearts. Both are very involved in Peace Society, working toward bettering the lives of refugees in the KW area. Both individuals are unique: one more athletic, one more artistic, one a flaming red head, the other an earthy brown, one can play the accordion, the other doesn’t, one mel-low, the other bubbly, but are united by many similarities: hometowns, love of sub-titles, adoration of the Stratford area, their constant desire to look in every Salvation Army thrift shop possible, their intelli-gence, their accents, and their uncommon compassion and empathy.”

“Angie and I may appear very similar if you are simply reading our bios,” said Rosabeth, “but we actually have very dif-ferent personalities and are interested in different types of activities - I am more athletic while Angie is more into music and theatre. We were good friends in high school but made the decision to come to Grebel separately.” Angie added that while they do a lot together, they have their own interests as well. And while they often reach the same conclusions, they think differently and approach things in different ways. “It has been a wonderful gift,” sum-marized Rosabeth, “to be able to share the unique experience that is Grebel with an

On October 26 over 70 donors and student recipients came to a recep-tion to celebrate Student Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries. The event was a wonderful way for do-nors to meet students whose studies they have helped to support.

Recent alumnus Jake Sauer, who es-tablished the Sauer Family award in memory of his mother HelenLouise, observed that setting up this fund is a concrete way to share the spirit of Grebel that he and his mother enjoyed, with future generations of students. In the last 5 years this program has

grown immensely and this year over $100,000 will be distributed to suc-cessful student applicants. Director of Development, Fred Martin, noted that in this time over 20 named awards for student support have been established. At the end of last fiscal year, the College held over $1.7 million in endowed funds for student awards in addition to awards funded by external partners such as Mennonite Foundation or the Wom-en of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (below).

For more info on awards and endow-ments, visit the planned giving web-site: grebel.uwaterloo.ca/giving

old friend as we encounter new things and grow both together and separately.”

Active in Peace Society, FLOW (Grebel women’s group), UW women’s centre, writing for GrebelSpeaks, organizing (with others) a weekly Grebel Foreign Film Night, Rosabeth is motivated by her de-sire to better herself and better the world around her. Her goal is to improve her life and by doing so, improve the rest of creation - the lives of other people as well as the earth. At this point in her life, she is working at this mainly through educa-

tion. In the future, Rosabeth hopes to have a writ-ing career of some sort, possibly in journalism or public relations.

Coming to Grebel to make her world big-ger, Angie wanted to “challenge myself to be

who I wanted to be and not who people expected me to be.” She is involved in Peace Society, volunteers at the K-W Re-ception Centre for Refugees, and helped organize the weekly Foreign Film Night and several hymn sings. This term she is involved in the Colleges’ One-Act Festival.

Motivated by “a desire to contribute some-thing worthwhile to the lives of the people I know, living as compassionately and conscientiously as I can, and experiencing, understanding, and feeling as much as I can in order to live life as fully as possible,” Angie eventually wants to be a university professor. However, she hopes to first have many incredible life experiences such as traveling and accomplishing extraordinary feats in order to build her eclectic profes-sor identity. She plans to do a lot of vol-unteer work after university with MCC or a similar organization as well as possibly teach English as a New Language.

Dean of Students Mary Brubaker-Zehr described Rosabeth and Angie together. “They are both wonderful, creative, alter-native in their thinking, passionate about issues of social justice and social change, and motivators within the Grebel commu-nity. They have made their mark at Grebel already.”

Angie Hostetler and Rosabeth Koehn show off their Student Life Award treasure chests.

Reimer Award

To recognize his family’s passion for music, Rudy Rempel has established the Rudolph and Hedwig Rempel Music Award. By working with Darren Pries-Klassen at Mennonite Foundation, Rudy realized that he had enough resources to care for himself and his son and make a gift to support his love of music. This endowment will provide $2,500 in each of four years to support and promote musical gifts to four students per year.

Born in Halbstadt, Ukraine and blind since the age of two, Rudy developed a keen ear and love for music. He played piano from a young age and also learned to play a vari-ety of other instruments. He attended a Music Technical School where he soon became a teacher. Rudy enjoyed the interaction with students and appreciated working with gifted students. World War II interrupted Rudy’s musical studies and led him on a different path.

Rudy immigrated to Waterloo, ON in 1948 after spending five years during the war in Germany. Soon after arriving in Canada, he met his future wife Hedy who had come to Canada earlier in 1924 from Gnadenfeld, Ukraine. The Rempels settled in Kitchener and had one son, Walter.

A very busy man, Rudy worked at various tools and projects to improve the quality of life of blind persons and helped the Canadian Mint to design coins that could be easily identified by touch for the blind. He also worked in the Tuck Shop at the K-W Hospital for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and served for four years as National President of the Council of the Blind.

“If this gift makes a little music, I’ll be happy,” mused Rudy. “It will be nice if this inspires students.”

A gift to inspire students

Marley Penner, Jen Wiebe, Mary Dick - donors and recipient of the

William Dick PACS Field Study Award

Chris Head, John Giesbrecht - recipient and benefactor of the

Agnes Giesbrecht Choral Music Scholarship

Congratulations 2006-07 WinnersGrebel proudly congratulates these scholarship and award winners. Thank you to all those who have set up memorial scholarships and awards to honour family members, as well as friends who have given freely to these funds over the years.

40th Anniversary Award - David Lenton

A. James Reimer Award Allan Rudy-Froese

Alice Eisen Leadership Award Kyle Gossen, Larissa Budd

Becky Frey Scholarship - Timothy Rudd

Clemens Scholarships in Music Cecile Michniewicz, Jane Thompson, Jennifer Spratt, Sarah Heyer, Terry Vaskor, Trevor Moore, Vasana Abeysekera

Clifford Snyder Memorial Bursary Steve Park

Dean’s Residence Award - Julia Malleck

Entrance Scholarships - Jessica Reesor, Rosabeth Koehn, Symon Flaming

George E. and Louise Schroeder Award Khuong Truong, Tobin Reimer

Giesbrecht Choral Music Scholarship Chris Head

Good Foundation Scholarship - Emma Dines, Leah Harder, Leena Miller, Matt Horlings

Graduate Student Support Fund - Zoreh Abdekhodaie, Stacey Thurman, Sarah Whyte

Grebel Student Award - John Wray, Mike Turman, Justus Zimmerly, Morgan Grainger

Jacob Andres Scholarship Justus Zimmerly

The Jean Caya Music Award Cecile Michniewicz, Katherine Barth, Mary-Catherine McNinch-Pazzano

Jacob H. Janzen Scholarship Andrew Martin

Krueger Family PACS Award Jessica Reesor

Lucinda Robertson Scholarship Erin Calder, Lynn Thomas, Tierney Smith

Magdalena Coffman Scholarship Stacey Thurman

MCC Peace Award David Neufeld, Kevin Hurford, Fatima Ahmed

PACS Internships - David Neufeld, Kevin Hurford, Fatima Ahmed

Robin Coupland Jutzi Scholarship Janna Youngblut, Miriam Papps

Sauer Family Award Joel Wagner, Lauren Clark-Gallant

Shantz Travel Fund - Jennifer Wiebe, Charissa Harms, Kara Klassen, Jaclyn Plessl, Simon Palamar, Fatima Ahmed, Miriam Papps, Morgan Cox

Student Council Award Kim Harder, Sherrie Friesen

Upper Year Residence Award Amanda Zehr, Erin Janzen, Leah Reesor, Meagan Voth, Mimi Hollinger-Janzen, Rebecca Janzen, Sarah Johnson

William Dick PACS Field Study Award David Neufeld

Women of MCEC Award - Anne Campion

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What’s going on in YOUR life??

Grebel Alumni want to know what’s up with old friends, lost

roommates, and late-night study buddies. YOU CAN HELP! Tell us what you’re up to these days!

ALL CONRAD GREBEL ALUMNI are invited to submit info about address and vocational changes, general updates, information about births, marriages, or deaths for inclusion in People. Please send: your name, year graduated, address, email, photo, and news to Jennifer Konkle, Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, ON N2L3G6 or jkonkle@uwaterloo.ca

After taking a break from the working world to have two daughters (Avery, 4 and Mae, 2) with husband Matthew (‘01), Meredith (Silcox) Ballaban (‘01) is em-barking on a new path that has nothing to do with her UW English degree! Meredith is excited to be starting work as a doula, offering prenatal, labour and postpartum support to women and their families. Stop by Meredith’s website, www.doulameredith.com for more info or to say “hi!”

After graduating from UW, Marilyn Roth (’03) taught English in China for a year and just completed her MA in Sociology at the University of Victoria. She is heading to England shortly (after a trip to Jerusalem) to work and travel. She hopes to find some research work or a teaching job after she arrives.

Karen Reyburn (‘96) and John Walsh are absolutely thrilled to announce the birth of their second daughter, Hope Lois Rey-burn Walsh. Hope was born on Septem-ber 7, 2006 in the peace and love of her own home in Ottawa. It was a wonderful, empowering and joyful experience for Karen and John. Karen is presently at home with Hope and big sister Emily. Karen and John can be reached at knj@rogers.com.

After teaching for the past four years at an international school in Hong Kong, Susan Streicher (‘01) has returned to Canada and is teaching grade 3/4 at Fellowship Christian school in Kitchener. Her time overseas was enriched by traveling to many countries in Asia as well as New Zealand. She has gained a great appreciation for other cultures and has a desire to continue traveling in the near future. Emails are wel-comed at s_streicher13@hotmail.com.

Paul Doerksen (MTS ’99) recently re-ceived his PhD in Western Religious Thought with specialization in theological ethics. The title of his dissertation was “Beyond Suspi-cion: Post Christendom Protestant Political Theology in the Thought of John Howard Yoder and Oliver O’Donovan”. Paul contin-ues to teach Bible and History on a part-time basis at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg and also teaches at

Canadian Mennonite University and the University of Manitoba.

Chris Cowperthwaite (’05) is a gradu-ate of Grebel’s PACS Program and recently completed a one year internship in the West Bank and Israel. Chris was at a Beth-lehem-based NGO dedicated to the study and support of nonviolent resistance. He reported for a local news network and co-led a youth Workshop on Small Arms in the Occupied Territories. Recognizing the need for volunteer support, Chris became involved with Israeli and Palestinian inter-faith dialogue groups, the production of radio programs for the CBC and Rabble.ca, and worked for 3 months as a farm hand on 100 acres of highly-contested land in the heart of the West Bank. From moni-toring the Palestinian Legislative Council elections to meeting the Dalai Lama to reporting on Israel’s recent war with Hez-bollah, Chris has lots of stories to share. Blog: www.chrisinpalestine.blogspot.com Podcast: www.rabble.ca/rpn/btw

Janice (Bauman) Malloy (‘99) and her husband Jeremy were blessed to have Parker Dean join their family on Decem-ber 9, 2006. This is their first child and they are enjoying every moment as a family of three. Janice is currently on maternity leave from Grebel and Jeremy is busy running his own web development company, Celsius.

Kristine Jantzi (’90) was on a kidney transplant waiting list for years at her home in Bangor, Maine. In November she was for-tunate to participate in the first-ever quin-tuple kidney transplant. Her mother gave her kidney to a complete stranger as part of the swap while Kristine also received a kid-ney from another complete stranger. This story made national news,

Jill (Martin ’02), Tim, and Meghan Plet-sch (3) recently welcomed a new member into their family! Nathaniel Paul was born December 5th, 2006. Jill is on maternity leave from Grebel where she works as ac-countant, while Tim works in accounting at Clarica & Sunlife Financial in Waterloo.

Colin (‘01) and Jennie (Krueger ‘99) Wiebe are “mainlanders” again. They moved from organic farming on Pelee Is-land, in the middle of Lake Erie, back to KW in November. Colin is working as an engineer with the consulting firm Gambsy & Mannerow in Guelph while Jennie works in early childhood education, family nutri-tion, physical education and more as she takes care of their two children at home, Naomi (3) and Joshua (1). She is happy to be singing again with Len Enns and the DaCapo Chamber Choir. Everyone is slowly adjusting to the faster pace of life on “the mainland”, and to seeing so many cars and people and stores and street lights and traffic lights every day. (There were few of these on Pelee and no traffic lights at all.) They can be reached at jenniewiebe@alumni.uwaterloo.ca

Nolan (’97,’98) and Margaret (’96,’97) Andres are pleased to have Kira Kather-ine Pearl join their family. She was born June 19, 2006 and is a little sister for Zoe (9) and Alethea (Thea) (5).

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Alumni from the 1980-85 era, save this date for your alumni reception and

80’s dance! Saturday, September 29, 2007

GrebelReunion

1980-85

Contact Cathy Maiolo (‘94), Paul Hildebrand (‘86), or Fred W. Martin (‘87) for more info. 519-885-0220 x24381 or

fwmartin@uwaterloo.ca

Annual KW Area Alumni Christmas Carol Sing

Janine (Wideman ‘98), Natalia, and Holdrid Odreman would like to announce the safe arrival of their new beautiful baby, Marisa Ofelia, on August 1st, 2006.

Brandy Sistili (’05) started her Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution at the Institute for Dispute Resolution at the University of Victoria, BC. Brandy’s undergrad studies in environmental resource studies brought her to the realization of the need for further studies in the area of conflict resolution. She hopes to focus her studies on First Na-tions treaty negotiations and their effect on resource use and management.

Just after she finished a PACS diploma at Grebel, Sarah Loewen (’06) landed a job with the KW YMCA as the Internation-al Supervisor. Her duties include working with children in global education, planning

In May 2007, the Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir, founded by Helen Martens, will observe its 40th anniversary. A celebrative weekend is planned for Saturday and Sunday May 5 and 6, 2007 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener. Special events will include a catered luncheon, the sharing of stories and memories throughout the years, photo displays, and a concert finale on the Sunday featuring an Alumni Mass Choir to be conducted by Jane Schultz-Janzen. Any former choristers, from the choir’s inception in 1967 to the present, are invited to participate in this celebration. If you are interested in being part of an Alumni Mass Choir in May, 2007, please contact the choir at imccalumni@hotmail.com or call Deanna Wiebe at 519-742-3416.

events for the community around global is-sues, and being the liaison for their HIV/AIDS project overseas. She is currently planning a local peace awards ceremony to honour those in the community who are contributing to social justice – peace in its rudimentary form.

This December, Grebel welcomed four 2027 grads. Four Grebel staff are now on maternity leave for the year: Sarah Moerbeek - food services assistant, Claudia Van Decker - music assistant, Janice Malloy - front office, and Jill Pletsch - accountant.

Several times a year, PACS Sessional, Keith Regehr leads workshops at Grebel for groups of Irish post-high school young adults who are in Canada for three months. The goal is to provide some work experience and job search skills in the context of a group that is deliberately made up of Catholics and Protestants from Northern Ireland as well as people from the Republic. The programme is intentional in providing training in conflict in a variety of settings.

Keith’s workshop provides an opportunity to think about recent shifts in Northern Ireland. With Ireland’s fast growing economy, the historical Catholic/Protestant conflict is becoming less important as the economy improves and immigrants arrive from various parts of the world looking for work. Irish attitudes to immigrants parallel those of Canadians in the early years of multiculturalism - they take jobs, they are all on social assistance, they are violent, etc. This training event is an opportunity to undo some of the stereotypes and help the young adults think about the experience of being an immigrant in Ireland.

Alumni Pioneers from the College’s first decade are

invited to come and celebrate UW’s

50th anniversary and Conrad’s first

10 years at a

Conrad Grebel Alumni Sleepover 7:00 pm Friday, May 25 to

Saturday, May 26, 2007 Friday: reception, entertainment and a campus tour.

Saturday: breakfast, visiting time or go to New Hamburg for the MCC Relief Sale.

Cost: Friday night reception $20 per person Reception with Bed & Breakfast $55 per person in single room $50 per person in shared room

Contact: Carolyn Snider ‘69 (glennandcarolyn@hotmail.com) Esther Etchells ‘67 (mennogo@yahoo.ca) Fred W. Martin 519 885-0220x24381

Sponsored by: Conrad Grebel Alumni Committee and UW’s 50th Anniversary

Irish VisitorsAlumni Sleepover

Grebel Now Winter 2007Page 8

Publications Mail Agreement No. 0040065122Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:Conrad Grebel University College140 Westmount Rd. N.Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6

Calendar of EventsThursday & Friday March 15th & 16th, 2007 7:30 pm, Great HallBechtel Lectures with Sandra Birdsell

Saturday March 17th, 2007 7:00 pm, Wycliffe College, U of TReadings by Sandra Birdsell

grebel.uwaterloo.ca/aboutgrebel/events.shtmSunday April 15th, 2007 2:00 pm, ML Theatre of the ArtsConrad Grebel Convocation

April 21st & 22nd, 2007Chapel Choir tour to Vineland, Markham and Ottawa

Friday-Saturday May 25th-26th, 2007 7:00 pm, Grebel ResidenceConrad Grebel Alumni Sleepover

Tuesday June 19th, 20076:30 pm, Dining RoomLebold Endowment Fundraising Banquet

Saturday September 29th, 2007 Conrad Grebel1980-85 Era Alumni Reunion & 80’s Dance

Conflict Management in Faith CommunitiesFaith communities present unique conflict resolution challenges--they involve deeply held values, identities, group dynamics and family systems. They also act as a wonderful resource for addressing conflict situations.

For more info or to register contact 519-885-0220 ext. 24254,

certprog@uwaterloo.ca or www.grebel.uwaterloo.ca/certificate

“From a peace and justice tradition”

C E R T I F I C AT E P R O G R A M

2007 Conflict Management in Faith Communities Workshops include:

Transformative Mediation Narrative Mediation

Facilitation Skills Understanding Conflict in a Faith Community Understanding Conflict I: The Key to Change

Healing Rituals for Conflict Resolution Communication in Creative Leadership

Spiritual Practices for Conflict Resolution Racism in Faith Communities

Theological Perspectives of Conflict/Resolution

Grebel ReviewFall 2006

Recent Mennonite Studies on The Lord’s Supper

To subscribe, contact: The Conrad Grebel Review, Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6, 519-885-0220 x24242 or cgreview@uwaterloo.ca

Ralph and Eileen Lebold Endowment

Fundraising Banquet

Grebel Summer Accommodations

Exploring the World of Paul

May 25 - June 10, 2007

Tuesday June 19, 2007

featuring Jack Suderman

General Secretary of Mennonite

Church CanadaTo purchase tickets call

Carol Lichti at 519-885-0220 x24223or email clichti@uwaterloo.ca

TourMagination along with Conrad Grebel Uni-versity College, are plan-ning a tour through West-ern Turkey and Greece. Tom Yoder Neufeld, As-sociate Professor of Reli-gious Studies (New Tes-tament) and Peace Stud-ies, and Fred Redekop, pastor at the Floradale Mennonite Church, will lead the group.

Call TourMagination, 1-800-565-0451 *available for credit if interested

2007Bechtel Lectures

“The Confession of a Reluctant Mennonite”

Lecture 1: “Writing from the Outside”Lecture 2: “From the Inside Out”

“The lectures pro-vide an anecdotal and biographical commentary on the perceptions and misconceptions that governed my com-ing to understand the Russian Menno-nite experience.” –Sandra Birdsell

For info contact the clichti@uwaterloo.ca or 519-885-0220, x24237

March 15-16, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

Conrad Grebel Great Hallwith Sandra Birdsell

Planning a wedding, a retreat, a family reunion, a conference, or seminar? Looking for a place to stay while visiting K-W?

This summer, try having your event at Grebel! Single or double rooms, 4-person apartments, classrooms, meeting rooms, and the dining room are all available for use!

Call Cheri at 519-885-0220, x24297